Chicago’s Beethoven Festival

I had the honor of working with Danielle Lurie, one of Filmmaker Magazine’s ’25 New Faces of Independent Film,’ and a fellow of IFP’s 2011 Emerging Visions symposium. Lurie is a New York City based filmmaker and photographer. She has been shooting films and photos since graduating from Stanford University in 2000 with a BA in Philosophy.

As a filmmaker, regardless of the space she inhabits, Lurie creates endless possibility. Her positivity, enthusiasm and curiosity breaks down any inhibitions I may have felt when collaborating. This particular piece was set on an open rooftop, in the rain where I could have let the elements, a random passerby or onlooker from the adjacent apartment windows distract from our process. This was of no concern with Lurie present. Lurie brings her warmth to the process making the results something to marvel at because what may have seemed rigid at first has somehow been captured organically.

Created for the 2013 Beethoven Festival, this is a segment of the Video Art Piece created by Danielle Lurie, Featuring Dance by James Koroni. Set to J.S. Bach’s Concerto in F Minor. (below)

Created for the 2013 Beethoven Festival, this is a segment of the Video Art Piece created by Danielle Lurie, Featuring Dance by James Koroni. Set to Astor Piazzolla’s Five Tango Sensations. (below)

Directed and filmed by Danielle Lurie
Choreography and dance performance by James Koroni
Beethoven Festival Curated by Catinca Tabacaru

About James Koroni

Author, James Koroni studied dance at ‘The Edge‘ in Los Angeles, ‘Broadway Dance Center‘ in New York City and Santa Monica College in Los Angeles. A few of his credits include choreographing and dancing for Princess Superstar in Paris, France, dancing for Madonna at MACY’s in Herald Square, performing in ‘Rhapsody’s Sirens after Dark‘ at the BLVD on Bowery, participated in the production of Bagabones at The Fringe Festival in New York City and teaching at Cynthia King Dance Studio in Brooklyn NYC. His Internships and Administrative credits include ‘Broadway Dance Center’ under the International Student Visa Program with Director Bonnie Erickson and is currently employed at Cynthia King Dance Studio in Brooklyn, NYC as Cynthia King’s Executive Assistant.
“So much of life carries the potential to shock and excite me and whether traditional or controversial, if it offers compassion I find a reason to appreciate its beauty.”
- James Koroni